Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method, comprising: invoking, by a processing device of a computer system, a configuration process in the computer system, wherein the configuration process provides a user interface (UI) for a user of the computer system in order to at least one of configure, administer, or diagnose problems within the computer system, and wherein the configuration process is associated with a configuration server, communicably coupled to the computer system via a network, that provides configuration services targeted to the computer system; opening, in view of an instruction from the configuration process, a port of the computer system in order for the configuration process to communicate with the configuration server via the network; when a time interval associated with the configuration process expires, accessing a log file corresponding to the configuration process, wherein interactions of the user with the configuration process via the UI provided by the configuration process are recorded in the log file; identifying entries of the log file related to activity of the user of the computer system; examining a file attribute of the log file to identify a most recent date and time of update to the log file; determining, in view of the identified entries related to the activity of the user and the identified most recent date and time of the update to the log file, that the log file has not been updated within the time interval; sending, in response to the determining that the log file has not been updated, a warning message to the user within the time interval, the warning message comprising an indication informing the user that the log file has not been updated in the time interval; and in response to the determination that the log file has not been updated and in response to a lack of feedback from the user in response to the warning message, terminating the configuration process, wherein terminating the configuration process results in closing the opened port.
A computer system manages configuration processes. It invokes a configuration process that provides a user interface for configuring, administering, or diagnosing the system. This process communicates with a configuration server over a network, opening a port for communication. After a set time, the system checks a log file that records user interactions with the configuration process's UI. It identifies user activity entries and the log file's last update time. If the log hasn't been updated within the time interval, a warning is sent to the user. If there's no response, the configuration process is terminated, and the open port is closed.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration process is invoked by the user, wherein the user is a remote user that uses the opened port.
The configuration process management system from the previous description is initiated by a remote user who connects through the opened port to interact with the configuration server. The system monitors the activity of this remote user through the log file and terminates the configuration process if inactivity is detected, ensuring that remote sessions do not remain open indefinitely, improving security and resource management.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration process is invoked by the user, wherein the user is a local user.
The configuration process management system from the first description is initiated by a local user interacting directly with the computer system. User actions are logged, and inactivity triggers a warning. If the local user doesn't respond, the system terminates the configuration process, preventing unnecessary resource consumption even when the user is physically present.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the log file has not been updated is performed in response to an expiration of the timer.
In the configuration process management system described earlier, the check for log file updates happens automatically when a timer expires. This timer is associated with the configuration process. This event-driven approach ensures that the system regularly monitors user activity and terminates inactive sessions promptly, enhancing security and resource efficiency without constant polling.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the log file has been updated in response to the user responding to the sent warning message.
In the configuration process management system described earlier, if the user responds to the warning message, the system recognizes that the log file has been updated. This acknowledgement of user activity resets the inactivity timer, allowing the configuration process to continue. The system interprets the user's response as confirmation of continued engagement, preventing premature termination of the session.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining that the log file has been updated within the time interval; and waiting for another time interval before performing a subsequent determination of whether the log file has been updated.
The configuration process management system described earlier, when it detects a log file update within the time interval, it then waits for another time interval before checking the log file again. This creates a periodic monitoring cycle, where the system actively tracks activity, but does not constantly poll for updates, optimizing resource utilization and reducing overhead.
7. A non-transitory machine-accessible medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising: invoking, by the processing device of a computing device, a configuration process in the computing device, wherein the configuration process provides a user interface (UI) for a user of the computing device in order to at least one of configure, administer, or diagnose problems within the computer system, and wherein the configuration process is associated with a configuration server, communicably coupled to the computing device via a network, that provides configuration services targeted to the computing device; opening, in view of an instruction from the configuration process, a port of the computing device in order for the configuration process to communicate with the configuration server via the network; when a time interval associated with the configuration process expires, accessing a log file corresponding to the configuration process, wherein interactions of the user with the configuration process via the UI provided by the configuration process are recorded in the log file; identifying entries of the log file related to activity of the user of the computing device; examining a file attribute of the log file to identify a most recent date and time of update to the log file; determining, in view of the identified entries related to the activity of the user and the identified most recent date and time of the update to the log file, that the log file has not been updated within the time interval; sending, in response to the determining that the log file has not been updated, a warning message to the user within the time interval, the warning message comprising an indication informing the user that the log file has not been updated in the time interval; and in response to the determination that the log file has not been updated and in response to a lack of feedback from the user in response to the warning message, terminating the configuration process, wherein terminating the configuration process results in closing the opened port.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions for managing configuration processes. These instructions, when executed, cause the system to invoke a configuration process providing a user interface for configuring, administering, or diagnosing the system. This process communicates with a configuration server over a network, opening a port. After a set time, the system checks a log file that records user interactions with the UI. It identifies user activity entries and the log file's last update time. If the log hasn't been updated, a warning is sent. If there's no response, the process is terminated, and the port is closed.
8. The non-transitory machine-accessible medium of claim 7 , wherein the configuration process is invoked by the user, wherein the user is a remote user that uses the opened port.
The non-transitory machine-accessible medium from the previous description includes instructions to handle a scenario where the configuration process is initiated by a remote user accessing the system via the opened port. The instructions enable monitoring of the remote user's activity through the log file, ensuring that inactivity leads to termination of the configuration process and closure of the port, enhancing security by preventing unauthorized access or resource hogging.
9. The non-transitory machine-accessible medium of claim 7 , wherein the configuration process is invoked by the user, wherein the user is a local user.
The non-transitory machine-accessible medium from the earlier description incorporates instructions for managing local user configuration processes. These instructions ensure that the system monitors activity even when the user is physically present, and if inactivity is detected, the configuration process is terminated, conserving resources and maintaining system efficiency.
10. The non-transitory machine-accessible medium of claim 7 , wherein the determining whether the log file has not been updated is performed in response to an expiration of the timer.
The non-transitory machine-accessible medium described earlier implements a timer-based mechanism. The instructions dictate that the determination of whether the log file has been updated is triggered by the expiration of the timer, ensuring regular and automatic checks for user activity, optimizing resource usage and maintaining security through timely termination of inactive sessions.
11. The non-transitory machine-accessible medium of claim 7 , wherein the time interval is specified in a crontab file.
The non-transitory machine-accessible medium described earlier contains instructions where the time interval for checking activity is specified in a crontab file. This allows system administrators to schedule and customize the monitoring frequency, providing flexibility in managing configuration processes according to specific system needs and usage patterns.
12. The non-transitory machine-accessible medium of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the log file has been updated in response to the user responding to the sent warning message.
The non-transitory machine-accessible medium described earlier includes instructions that, when the user responds to a sent warning message, determine that the log file has been updated. This ensures that active users are not prematurely terminated from their configuration tasks, promoting a smooth user experience while maintaining the system's ability to manage idle sessions effectively.
13. The non-transitory machine-accessible medium of claim 7 , wherein the opened port are closed after waiting for another time interval.
The non-transitory machine-accessible medium described earlier includes instructions that the opened port will be closed after waiting for another time interval, when the configuration process is terminated. The extra delay ensures that the system gracefully closes all connections and prevents data corruption during the termination process.
14. An apparatus, comprising: a memory; a processing device communicably coupled to the memory; a user interface (UI), executable from the memory by the processing device, to receive a user login, to cause a configuration process to be invoked, and to receive user input for managing the configuration process, wherein the configuration process provides the UI for a user of the apparatus in order to at least one of configure, administer, or diagnose problems within the apparatus, and wherein the configuration process is associated with a configuration server, communicably coupled to the apparatus via a network, that provides configuration services targeted to the apparatus; a log file in the memory to store log file information in response to the received user input for managing the configuration process; and a process monitor, executed from the memory by the processing device and coupled with the user interface and the log file, the process monitor to: open, in view of an instruction from the configuration process, a port of the apparatus in order for the configuration process to communicate with the configuration server via the network; when a time interval associated with the configuration process expires, access the log file corresponding to the configuration process, wherein interactions of the user with the configuration process via the UI provided by the configuration process are recorded in the log file; identify entries of the log file related to activity of the user of the apparatus; examine a file attribute of the log file to identify a most recent date and time of update to the log file; determine, in view of the identified entries related to the activity of the user and the identified most recent date and time of the update to the log file, that the log file has not been updated within the time interval; send, in response to the determining that the log file has not been updated, a warning message to the user within the time interval, the warning message comprising an indication informing the user that the log file has not been updated in the time interval; and in response to the determination that the log file has not been updated and in response to a lack of feedback from the user in response to the warning message, terminate the configuration process, wherein terminating the configuration process results in closing the opened port.
An apparatus manages configuration interfaces. It contains memory, a processor, and a user interface for user login, invoking configuration processes, and receiving input. The configuration process provides a UI to configure, administer, or diagnose the apparatus, and it's linked to a configuration server over a network. A log file stores information based on user input. A process monitor opens a port for the configuration process to communicate with the server. When a time interval expires, the monitor accesses the log file, identifies user activity, examines the file's last update time, and if no update is detected, sends a warning. If there's no response, the process is terminated, and the port is closed.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the process monitor is further to determine whether the log file has been changed by verifying that a file date and time attribute falls within the time interval.
The apparatus from the previous description includes a process monitor that determines if the log file has been changed by checking if the file date and time attribute falls within the specified time interval. This provides a simple and efficient way to detect activity and prevent premature termination of configuration processes.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the process monitor is further to determine whether the log file has been changed by evaluating contents of the log file.
In the apparatus configuration described earlier, the process monitor determines whether the log file has been updated by inspecting the content of the log file itself. This method allows for a more detailed assessment of user activity. The system checks the log file entries for new actions or modifications made by the user, providing a deeper understanding of ongoing configuration tasks.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the process monitor is further to: determine that the log file has been updated within the time interval; and wait for another time interval before performing a subsequent determination of whether the log file has been updated.
In the apparatus configuration from the earlier description, the process monitor determines that the log file has been updated within the time interval, it will wait for another time interval before checking again. This creates a cyclical checking process, avoiding constant monitoring and saving system resources. This configuration monitors activity without causing unnecessary load.
Unknown
November 4, 2014
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